The Wally Street Journal | Issue 6

The Wally Street Journal

Issue 6 21/7/17

Contents 3. The Generation of Pessimists.

4. The Importance of Creative Subjects 5. Climate Change 6. Geography Quiz 7. Horoscope 9. Letter to MP Nicki Morgan 10. Written in the Stars 12. The Physics Behind Superheroes 13. ITER – the Solution we’ve All Been Waiting For 14. What is London Pride Really Like?

15. Why do White Men Still Dominate English Literature 17. Poem 1 18. Poem 2 19. Poem 3 20. In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat 22. Interview with Mrs Anderson 23. Soundtrack to your Week 25. The Waterfall 26. The Fire

THINK PIECE The Generation of Pessimists Nana Akua Boadu

A popular meme that has been circulating on the internet from the era of 2013 depicts a nonchalant dog surrounded by a burning building proclaiming ‘this is fine’ - a harmless comic panel, right? Social media platforms such as Instagram and twitter often have users retweeting and posting this meme with captions of relatability that often receive a chorus of agreement from young people alike.

Why does such a negative outlook on life resonate with so many young people? To have so many issues and problems surround you in life that instead of seeking help or taking action, they would prefer to endure the pain and do nothing about it definitely doesn’t sound healthy. Are they just agreeing with the general sarcastic mockery that can be applicable to many life scenarios that they have experienced, or has social media slowly started to help us, as a generation, to brush off negative life experiences in the form of a meagre joke? ‘The meme’-a funny and relatable post with undertones of a cry for help from the poster and the people who share it, begs me to question why the comic panel on the right is not shared instead. One where the dog does not let his bad circumstances to get the best of him, rather, he decides to take appropriate action to better his situation. When we as a generation are able to reflect on the bad in life and use it to better ourselves and create our own good, not only do we have a more positive outlook on life, we are able to spread this positivity to the people around us and I

think that this is what we as a generation should be striving for.

Photo credit: KC Green’s 2013 webcomic "On Fire."

ADVICE The Importance of Creative Subjects Jennifer Jesuthasan Art, Music, Drama and Technology, all of these creative subjects are slowly being removed from our education system. In the future will all students will be studying academic subjects with no space for their imagination and creativity?

The government is focusing on sciences and maths which is reflected in the student’s subject choices, clearly evident in our school as most students do conform to mainly academic subjects with a choice of one creative subject that they are likely to drop. However, there is the minority that makes the controversial decision to not take mathematics A-level because they know that their future path lies elsewhere. How can we forget about these future designers, artists, musical producers etc? I myself decided to choose a pathway that my parents were against. For my GCSE options, I decided that I wanted to carry on art and resistant materials because I loved to express myself through these subjects that were simply more intriguing to me than science. Contrastingly, for my A levels, I chose Physics, Maths, English and Graphics; options that many may think will guarantee that I have a stable job in the future. There are many misconceptions about the degrees and jobs that creative subjects offer for young people with a bursting passion for the arts. Similar to many other parents my mum holds the belief that “you will not get a job if you don’t take maths”, along with science. I cannot stress how wrong this statement is.

It is estimated that the creative arts sector represents 5% of the British economy valued at £76.9 billion. Who will take these jobs if schools do not offer the subjects?

Why do the majority of grammar school students choose academic subjects rather than creative subjects for their A level choices? Between 2003 and 2013 there was a 50% drop in the GCSE numbers for design and technology in all school across Britain. 17,000 fewer students have chosen to study creative courses in universities this year compared to 2016. If the students are not exposed to the subject in school then it is unlikely that they will consider it in university, meaning that these numbers will only drop further. I strongly believe that we need creative arts subjects in schools to make sure that the future of the cultural and creative industries is not a dead end. If schools do not even offer these subjects, some students from a strictly academic background may never even have an insight into these subjects which limits their future careers; students may never find their passion towards the creative arts.

GEOGRAPHY Climate Change Bella Nathanson-Tanner Most of my life I have never taken climate change seriously. It is difficult to take something seriously that you cannot see. From a young age, we are taught the importance of reducing our carbon footprints and being environmentally friendly. Yet the message has still not reached a lot of us; just recently America elected a president who is ‘sceptical’ about climate change. Climate change is singlehandedly the most poignant problem that faces our society yet we struggle to comprehend its significance.

With carbon dioxide levels in the air at their peak in more than 650,000 years, global temperatures rising rapidly with a 1.7 degrees Celsius increase since 1880 and sea levels rising 3.4 mm per year, climate change affects everything. You are probably asking yourself 'why is this important?' How does a 1-degree increase in temperature affect me? Previously I would have asked the same questions however after reading “Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet” by Mark Lynas it became evident that climate change affects all of us.

From the largest cities of the world being submerged to deaths due to scorching heat waves and extreme homelessness caused by the rapid changes in climate, our future in 'Six Degrees' is petrifying. What struck me most was the disturbances caused recently by refugees fleeing from war torn countries compared with the masses of climate refugees soon to come searching for survival. It is amazing how concerned we all are with the 6,000 refugees in Calais yet nobody in government has raised any worry of the future climate refugees and what we can all do to ensure people are not displaced.

The book concluded in an optimistic, unexpected and positive way. It is not too late; we are merely on the brink of collapse and we still have the power to reverse climate change. It won’t be easy and everyone will have to change their lifestyles to reduce the effect on the planet but if we all collaborate and devote our time and energy a difference can be made. It’s about time we give back to a planet that has already given us so much!

It is the little things that make a difference: turning lights off when you are not using them, scarifying your bath to have a shower and reducing the amount of meat you eat (especially beef). Our democratic society rests on the concept of individual influence. A single light left on overnight over a year accounts for as much greenhouse gas as a car drive from Paris to Cambridge. Hot water use contributes £228 to the average annual combined energy bill and emits 875kg of CO2 per household per year. One beef burger wastes 660 gallons of water and animal agriculture is responsible for 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. It is amazing to think about the positive and negative effects we can have on our planet from the comfort of our own home.

Optimism, perseverance and determination are the only way to fight climate change. It’s never too late to start so start today. We can’t change what has been done we can only fix it. We are heirs of the past and makers of the future; let's make our future wonderful!

QUIZ Geography Quiz

1. What is the capital city? a) Warsaw b) Barcelona c) Kosovo 2. Which mountains are on the southern border of Poland? a) Ural b) Carpathians c) Apennines 3. What is the name of the Polish sea? a) The Red Sea b) The Baltic Sea c) The Mediterranean Sea 4. How many people live in Poland? a) 25 million b) 50 million c) 38 million 5. What climate do they have in Poland? a) Temperate b) Polar c) Tropical 6. What big sporting event partly took place in Poland in June 2012? a) The Olympic Games b) The World Skiing Championship c) Euro 2012 7. At what age do children start school education In Poland? a) 4years b) 6 years c) 10 years 8. Who was the most famous Polish composer? a) Fryderyk Chopin b) Ludwig van Beethoven c) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 9. What religion is the most popular in Poland? a) Muslim b) Roman Catholic c) Jewish 10. What is the name of the highest mountain in Poland? a) Mount McKinley b) Mont Blanc c) Rysy 1.

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HOROSCOPE This year the school newspaper has enlisted their own Mystic Meg to take a little peek into your futures by communing with the stars to ask them what's in store for the summer:

Aries - March 21- April 19 Honestly, the stars are impressed. You've tried your best this year and we're all very proud - you're displaying those leadership qualities that are so dominant in your personality. The stars would say to try and kick that habit over the summer but the stars don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone so they assured me you know what they mean…?

Taurus - April 20 - May 20 The stars would like to commend you on carrying all those group projects alone. Your responsible character has shone through and the stars understand your struggle, some stars were more involved than others in this project (looking at you Sirius). The stars do have a grave warning for you: keep an eye on that fashion sense; it's getting slightly out of control. They know you like that top but does it like you?

Gemini - May 21 - June 20 Your versatility has served you well Gemini - those test scores are stellar across the board. Honestly, your summer is looking pretty cool as long as you avoid a very specific food. But I don't know which one - the stars just say bon appetit!

Cancer - June 21 - July 22 It’s been a big year for you Cancer and the stars predict great things to come. Follow that strong intuition of yours - your gut knows what it's doing. More or less. The stars are keen to point out you'd have a better summer if you did that thing you've been putting off. You know…THAT thing. Well, the stars know you don't want to do it - that's why you've been putting it off- now go.

Leo - 23 July - 22 August You have persisted through the adversity of boring lessons this year and the stars are awed at how your stoic nature has shone through. They also have summer advice - you are a 'fixed' sign and therefore can be inflexible - it's ok for plans to change - just go with the flow, put that list down.

Virgo - 23 August - September 22 You are an absolute all rounder, Virgo, stop it - you're upsetting the stars and the rest of us. However, the stars say your tendency to worry could ruin your summer so calm down, breathe, do something spontaneous without thinking about it: dye your hair, rob a bank, bake some cookies at random. A little out-of-the-blue fun is just what you need to have a great summer.

Libra - September 23 - October 22 Your natural need for harmony and balance has made you a great calming influence on your friends this year and the stars assure you they appreciate it. The stars do want to make you aware that this need can also be a double edged sword that leads to too much second guessing. Trust your gut, you deserve it, you should probably be careful with it around children or anyone really but you deserve it.

Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 Your realism with yourself has meant you have been able to set and meet your goals effectively this year.

The stars know that you have a tendency to be a little secretive but that's ok - we all know and it's fine. A little bit gross, but totally fine.

Sagittarius - November 22 - December 21 Sagittarius you are a born intellectual with an eye for the bigger picture. The stars think it's great how you've harnessed your natural enthusiasm this year. A word of advice from the stars in the summer is to go out and explore - we all know you get grumpy when you're stuck at home and no one really wants to have to deal with it.

Capricorn - December 22 - January 19 You're an independent soul Capricorn; your ability to self-motivate has been really impressive this year.

This summer for you is all about forgiveness because the stars know you find this hard and you're going to have to forgive a lot: especially that thing Leo's going to do because that's going to be embarrassing.

Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 You're an eccentric Aquarius and that has helped you achieve a lot this year by seeing things from a different perspective. The stars say well done. This summer, try to strike a good balance between staying at home and enjoying some time to yourself and going out with your friends. The stars suggest a 7:0 weekly ratio.

Pisces - February 19 - March 20 You are a selfless soul and your kindness has made all the difference to your friends this year. The stars would just say don't be so gullible Pisces, you have a real tendency to believe everything. Also over the summer, the stars predict an alien invasion so stock up on tinned goods.

ENGLISH Letter to MP Nicky Morgan, 2014-2016 Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Olivia Moody As Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality, it should be brought to your attention that there is a significant divide and thus inequality in the distribution of male and female authors within several of the key GCSE English literature specifications and their set texts. AQA, the biggest exam board in the UK, demonstrates this issue considerable, with the current qualification, as in place from 2015, seeing 74% of its set text being written by male authors.

Consequently, the '#BalanceTheBooks' campaign has been established to counteract this inequality. Led by the movement For Book's Sake, the online campaign argues that exam boards should be aiming for a greater level of equality in the books they opt to put forth, in terms of race, class, sexuality and gender. This is something I strongly agree with, especially so in today's that so outwardly promotes all forms of quality; if gender equality in work opportunities pay and education rights are fought for, what makes the literary representation of genders any different?

Recent changes to the GCSE literature syllabus have seen staples such as Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' removed from multiple courses, and this can be seen as a step backwards with regards to achieving gender equality.

Arguably one of the most influential female-written novels of all time, the themes Lee tackles are wider than gender equality - she exemplifies how absurd it is to hold preconceptions of another person due to their race of social status, something that would educate younger readers in how to act morally and how to approach others in a respectful manner. Additionally, the removal of the novel worsens the male to female author ratio, reinforcing the idea of men being dominant in literature.

This, therefore, demonstrates the importance of the #BalanceTheBooks campaign, in the sense that awareness of such a campaign has the potential to introduce readers to a whole new range of authors simply by altering the lists of set texts for GCSE courses.

Despite the manner in which men have historically been more numerous and dominant across all forms of literature, one cannot claim that there aren't any female counterparts to figures such as Hardy, Wordsworth or Shakespeare.

To exemplify this, a selection of the works of Jane Austen and Mary Shelley have featured in the GCSE examination for several years. However, the likes of fellow female writers such as Kate Chopin and the lesser known works of the Bronte sisters have failed to make it into the specification, yet these works can perhaps be seen to contain far more points of analysis and contextual detail relevant to a course than works by male writers selected instead It can thus be determined that a re-evaluation of the selected materials for teachers to choose from within literature course is needed, and the 'For Book's Sake' movement is working towards this. The campaign strives for a nonexistent gap between the proportions of men and women presented in a specification. Not only does this mean a wider range of themes and concepts will be available for analysis, it will help to eliminate the preconception of literature being a typically male-dominated field, which in turn could encourage a new generation of young women to develop an interest in writing.

PHYSICS Written in the Stars Radhika Gupta The ancient Greeks noticed the predictable motion of the stars; they seemed to form apparent circles around the North Pole as the earth rotated. Certain patterns formed by bright stars became very well recognised and from these stemmed various star constellations, named after mythical Greek heroes, with a story associated with each one.

‘We look up at the same stars, and see such different things.’

George R.R. Martin

The earth’s rotation and orbit around the Sun mean that certain constellations, called SEASONAL CONSTELLATIONS are only visible at certain times of the year, including Andromeda, Cetus, and Aquarius, visible in autumn, and Canis Major, Canis Minor, and Taurus, visible in winter.

CIRCUMPOLAR CONSTELLATIONS never seem to set as they exist above the horizon at all times within a set latitude. People in the earth’s northern hemisphere will always be able to see stars and constellations in the northern circumpolar sky like Cassiopeia, Perseus, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor, and similarly, those in the southern hemisphere can see Phoenix, Lupus, Crux, Centaurus and much more.

URSA MAJOR – Large Bear The Greek myth tells the story of Callisto, a young nymph, who Zeus was enchanted by. His jealous wife, Hera, transformed Callisto into a bear...

The Big Dipper, the cup and handle shape, forms part of the Ursa Major and is key to identifying the Ursa Mainor. The path between the two stars that form the right side of the cup leads to the Polaris, the North Star, which lies at the end of the Ursa Minor constellation.

URSA MINOR – Small Bear ...Callisto, in bear form, came across her son Arcas. To prevent Arcas from shooting his mother, Zeus turned him into a bear as well and placed both mother and son eternally in the night sky.

This constellation is famous for the Polaris, or North Star, which marks the direction of the North Pole, and has aided in navigation, for sailors in particular, for centuries past. The ascension of Polaris in the sky (how high above the horizon a star appears) can help a person find their approximate latitude.

Many look for the Polaris directly above them in the sky, but its placement there is a common misconception. From anywhere other than the North Pole, the Polaris will not be straight above, but instead, relative to the line of the North Celestial Pole.

Seasonal constellations surprisingly played a significant part in agriculture. The rising of particular constellations, such as Orion, marked the coming of winter, and stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega would form a triangle in summer and spring months, to inform farmers of warmer weather. Thus, they determined when to sow and reap crops.

UNCOVERING THE ZODIAC The ecliptic plane is the plane in which the planets orbit the sun, and the celestial plane contains the line of rotation of the earth. Imagine the ecliptic path as a 20-degree wide band, split into twelve 30 degree sections.

Each section is labelled with the Zodiac star constellation it contains, starting from a point where the celestial and ecliptic planes meet, the vernal equinox. Over the course of a year, Earth’s orbit passes through each zodiac sector.

We are born under a particular zodiac sign which corresponds to the position of the earth relative to the sun at that point in time. If a line was drawn from the centre of the earth to the sun at the time you were born and then extended further, the sector through which it passes would be considered your star sign. Ironically, the constellation named for your sign is not visible at night, as the sun is passing through it at that time, making it an invisible daytime constellation.

In astrology, the positions of the earth, the sun, the moon and other planets relate to human activity. The signs of the zodiac are therefore said to represent characteristic modes of expression.

PHYSICS The Physics behind Superheroes f.t Captain America and Iron Man Alicia Symes Tony Stark develops his 'arc reactor' in the first film of the Iron Man trilogy after he is kidnapped by the Ten Rings and two pieces of shrapnel become embedded in his chest moving towards his heart. They are prevented from moving any closer by an electromagnet and arc reactor in his chest. An arc reactor really means a mini fusion reactor – but is this realistic? Fusion is known and used in the real world – hydrogen atoms fuse together in the Sun’s core to create helium and energy we eventually receive this energy on earth as solar energy. Nuclear fusion has been achieved here on earth in tokamak devices; they are the same shape as the doughnut that is Tony Stark’s. However, experts say that the greatest impossibility of Tony Stark’s arc reactor is that there is currently no scientific evidence that it is possible to make a mini fusion reactor the size of one’s palm.

Another scientific fault is that Tony Stark would never be able to keep the magnets cool enough (-200⁰C) and still be able to maintain his core body temperature. The sheer magnetic force of the nuclear fusion would rip the shrapnel which is trying to keep his heart clear out of his body.

The palladium poisoning that Tony Stark gets in Iron Man 2 is realistic in some ways and unrealistic in others. It is realistic because palladium poisoning actually occurs as old fusion reactors used palladium. It is unrealistic however because present day reactors do not use enough palladium for Tony Stark to receive poisoning. The way it presents itself is also unrealistic as it would not appear as the black lines on Tony Stark’s skin but rather as a bad rash, however, a rash is not as dramatic.

In ‘Captain America – The First Avenger’ Dr Abraham Erskine created the super soldier serum – it has to be acknowledged that this serum breaks many biological laws however, this is a physics article, not a biology one. Howard Stark (Tony Stark’s father) creates a shield that becomes as iconic as the super soldier himself. Like his son’s creations, Howard Stark’s vibration shield ‘doesn’t obey the laws of physics at all’ – a fact pointed out by Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. Anybody that has seen Captain America use his shield will know that it is able to absorb blows of any calibre, he can also bounce it off many walls and have it make its way back to him like a boomerang. Nearly all of what the shield can do makes little scientific sense.

The movies often show the shield attached to Captain America’s left forearm. In the second Avengers movie, Captain America throws the shield at a wall and then it bounces off to hit an enemy. Captain

America then calls the shield back to his left arm. In reality, it is very difficult for anybody to throw the shield with that force and accuracy although attaching it to your left forearm would be relatively simple. Captain America would not be able to use electromagnets to retrieve the shield but he would be able to catch it in mid-air. This is because simply turning on the electromagnets would not attract the shield at a distance. For the shield to stick to your arm you need to have metal disks near the magnets.

A core assumption that many comics make of the shield is that it can absorb all kinetic energy. However this would cause many of its other abilities to fall apart. For instance, it would not be an effective weapon. Hitting someone with the shield would be like hitting them with a pillow: the energy exerted on the enemy with the shield would be absorbed, causing no damage. The shield’s absorption abilities must work both ways; if it does not allow energy to be transferred to the wielder, then it cannot transfer energy to the enemy either. If the shield is unable to transfer energy then it would not be able to ricochet at all.

This is due to the Physics principle that in any collision, some energy is lost; this is why a ball will never bounce back to its starting point. If all the energy is lost (or in this case, absorbed) then the ball will not bounce back at all.

Captain America often uses the shield’s supposed ability to ricochet, to ricochet bullets back towards the enemy and kill them. However, if the shield truly absorbs energy then this is impossible – due to the laws of physics, the bullets should just fall to the ground.

However, as viewers, we must be willing to suspend our disbelief and without breaking a few laws of physics superhero movies would probably be far less exciting.

PHYSICS ITER – the solution we’ve all been waiting for?

Ravena Rajeevan The energy crisis Globally, humanity is facing an energy crisis: fossil fuels are finite sources of energy. It is estimated that they will only give us enough energy to take us as far as 2088. After this, we are going to need a renewable source of energy. This is where ITER comes in.

ITER ITER is an energy project to use nuclear fusion as a source of energy in the future. Nuclear fusion is the process that powers our Sun and all other stars. It involves two atomic nuclei fusing together to make one larger nucleus. During this process, a large amount of energy is released. It would not only be a large-scale source of energy; it is also a carbon-free process. Although nuclear fusion does produce radioactive waste, unlike with nuclear fission, the waste is short-lived and decays to background levels in a very short period of time. This makes nuclear fusion an environmentally sustainable source of energy.

35 nations are working together to build the world’s largest tokamak – a magnetic fusion device designed to harness the energy released during nuclear fusion. Inside a tokamak, the energy released is absorbed as heat in the walls of the vessel. This heat will then be used to produce steam, which will turn turbines that drive the generators that produce electricity.

Nuclear fusion, in more detail The most efficient fusion reaction in the laboratory setting is between deuterium and tritium because the reaction releases the highest amount of energy at the lowest temperatures. The conditions that have to be met for fusion to occur are a very high temperature, sufficient plasma particle density and sufficient confinement time.

In a tokamak, the high temperature and pressure make the gas become plasma as electrons are separated from nuclei. This plasma state provides the environment that allows fusion to occur. Powerful magnetic fields in a tokamak device are used to confine and control the plasma. ITER will be twice the size of the largest tokamak currently in operation, with ten times the plasma chamber volume.

LGBT+ What is the London Pride Parade really like?

Louisa Kitley The London Pride Parade is an annual event held in early July to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the constantly increasing support from the cis-het community, or ‘allies’.

This year the London Pride Parade was held on July 8th and I, along with one million others, travelled down to Central London to watch the procession.

If you have never been to London Pride before then I can’t recommend it enough that you go at least once in your life because it really is an amazing day. Anyone planning on attending Pride next year should make sure to get there nice and early if they want to get close enough to see the parade properly, and be sure to break out the rainbow highlight because whilst it’s nigh on impossible to go overboard in your pride costume, it’s very easy to be underdressed for the occasion. I decided to go for a subtle look this year, as you can see in the picture below, however, there were many that looked far better and far prouder than me filling the streets of London.

My friends and I chose Trafalgar Square to watch the Parade from this year because of its easy to reach location, and the fact that the main stage is also held there. On this stage, there is a range of performers from drag acts to LGBTQ+ singers, with last year’s x-factor runner up Saraa Alto performing alongside Fleur East and Sinitta. Entry is free, but there is a recommended donation of £3 to keep pride going and fund it in the future.

This year’s celebrations were particularly moving as they marked the 50-year-anniversary since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK and with that in mind performers, parade goers and onlookers were united with a friendly atmosphere to show just how far we have come in such a short amount of time.

Hearing the stories of people who have lived through legislative discrimination and hate is an emotional experience and gives a real sense of pride, no pun intended, for the LGBTQ+ community, and watching the happiness in the parade goers and the amazing talent on the stages is uplifting and this combination makes for one of the best days out in London’s calendar.

I would definitely recommend everybody attends Pride next year, whether or not you are LGBTQ+, to show unity and to just enjoy yourself.

ENGLISH Why Do White Men Still Dominate English Literature?

Olivia Moody Throughout her article, writer Helen Ward puts forth the idea of female writers omitted from a range of English literature qualifications, putting emphasis on exam boards of Edexcel and AQA, specifically their respective GCSE courses. Ward approaches this issue of gender inequality from several angles, looking at the viewpoints both of those on the exam boards and well-established female authors, and she presents her points through the use of supporting statistics and her language choice.

Ward's utilisation of language stresses how the imbalance of male and female authors within set texts is expected to worsen, one instance of this being how women have been 'sidelined' in favour of books with male authors for the new 2015 GCSE specification. The verb choice conveys that female literary input has effectively been discarded by exam boards, something Ward goes on to justify their statistic - AQA's proportion of male-written set texts is set to rise from 60% to 74%. Additionally, it can be seen that the verb is a phase heavily associated with male-dominated sports such as football, something that puts further weight on the issue of gender inequality within literature lessons.

Whilst the title of the article clearly brings forth the issue of male dominance in literature, it also suggests that racial inequality is an issue that needs to be addressed. Ward questions why it is so that 'white men' dominate literature in today's society and an accompanying image shows to white males, of different generations, acting out what can be perceived=d to be a Shakespeare play. This is something that illustrates Ward's point on two levels; the first is that the best-known pieces of literature from the last few centuries are works of white, middle-class males, and the second is that the characters within these works are also white, Ward further relays this issue through a rule of three, writing how exam boards should strive for a 'greater diversity of race, class and sexuality'. This addresses that whilst on the surface it appears to be gender alone that generates inequality, the issue is far deeper -Ward could, therefore, be attempting to put forth the concept that is the content of the text chosen for analysis needs to be reconsidered, rather than the gender of the author.

It can be interpreted that Ward wrote this article as to bring to light the discrimination of female authors in GCSE specifications, and she has successfully done so, particularly by using alarming statistics that support her point. By quantifying the stark imbalance of the male to female author ratios, the true extent of arguable marginalisation of the work of female rewriters comes to light, and Ward goes on to supply examples of 'lesser-known' female authors that could be included in set text lists to even out the gender distribution, such as Elizabeth Gaskell and Frances Trollope, which only puts further weight as to why it is that white males remain dominant in literature, too. She has effectively answered the question she poses, too, which only demonstrates the ease with which exam boards could combat the issue - there is a readily available range of works that could be selected from as to equalise the gender imbalance within specifications, and by listing potential female authors, Ward

poses the further question of why exam boards haven't made an attempt to abolish inequality.

Looking generally at the article, it is clear that Ward wanted to raise awareness of how there is an uneven distribution of gender among studied authors at GCSE level English. She emphasises the issue through the use of language and statistics, the latter of which also helps a reader understand the true extent of the divide. Additionally, by offering ways to resolve the issue, Ward subtly shows that in today's society, gender 'favouritism' has no excuse to be a prevalent problem.

POETRY Poem 1 Honna Rasoul

So many words to say, so little time Stuck in quicksand of rhythm and rhyme I sometimes wonder, was it easy?

Was it easy to stand there and watch me burn With the matchstick in your hand I never thought about how quick you'd turn You held me by my wrists and moved me on your stage All my life has been a script and you wrote every page.

Why was I your puppet?

You lead me on While I was feeling everything and you were feeling nothing You went through that door and now you're gone.

You used me But now you'll have to excuse me What was going on in your head?

You're pressed under my skin Your name is written on my bones I guess I have to live like this.

Maybe I'm meant to be alone.

POETRY Poem 2 Rashani Ilankumaran

When I look at your eyes, There is only one thing that I can see; The word allies, I am sure that you agree.

Why happen now?

I can finally feel rejection, You can't ever disallow, Or show any more affection.

The hatred flowing to me, Why did I ever have to see you?

You're just like a bee Making me use up many tissues.

I know how this ends.

Let's just leave and forget, We were never meant to be friends, We all get upset.

POETRY Poem 3 Eden Olaniyan

Living a lie, Pretending everything is fine.

Not even a whisper in your thoughts, Yet, you're screaming in mine.

With you, life was a party to be thrown, If only I could have foreseen, could have known.

Loving you resembles talking to a wall of stone, You left me abandoned in ruins on my own.

Acknowledge my brokenness?

Manifest my own happiness?

Do away with hopelessness?

The attachment is poisonous.

Love spurned, Love yearned, Love unreturned.

BOOK REVIEW In Search of Schrödinger's Cat – John Gribbin A Book Review – Ella Dun

An Overview John Gribbin is a well respected and established British science writer.

Gribbin covers the broad subject of Quantum mechanics, including in depth descriptions of every aspect, even basic concepts such as Bohr’s atom (ch.4). He also cleverly intertwines the whole history of quantum physics and physics as a whole into the book, by including references to scientists and background knowledge on them such as their education and the time period they lived in which is often a formative influence.

Furthermore, he refers to discussions between scientists at the time, together with their opinions on how theories develop, which conveys to the reader the process of discovery within physics and science as a whole.

The actual concept of Schrödinger’s cat is introduced in the prologue but then isn’t mentioned again until ch.11. The theory is that if a cat were in a box with radioactive decay if you then open the box the cat will be either dead or alive. However then if you consider the quantum world the cat can be neither dead nor alive as no reality has been observed.

The concept behind this is explored thoroughly in the book.

Audience & Format “In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat” is spit into 3 parts: 'the quantum', 'quantum mechanics', '…and beyond'. This gives the book a solid structure and makes the information more digestible for the reader as the content gradually becomes more challenging. This allows the reader to adjust and process in order for them to fully understand the content. Gribbin includes diagrams to support his explanations enabling a smoother, more comprehensible read. He doesn’t state a specific audience for which the text is aimed, however; I would say it is directed towards anyone with a passion for physics. It is written with great clarity which makes it understandable and comprehensible to any reader with a basic understanding of the laws of physics.

Main Content and Link to Syllabus The book begins with a chapter on light, which immediately relates to work covered in school and the detailed explanation gives one a rounder view as to what light is and the properties it holds. Gribbin includes diffraction diagrams which push one's understanding further into what the wave theory is and the proof behind it. The next chapter is extremely relevant to the A level syllabus as it discusses particle theory and how Planck discovered Planck’s constant through black body objects. Gribbin then goes on to discuss how unwelcome Planck’s discoveries were in the scientific world, along with a many more useful facts. In ch.10 he explains polarisation and how that has an impact on the way we view the world which is extremely relevant; he also includes other very interesting concepts in this chapter such as the spin paradox which can spark one’s love for physics. A highlight of the book for me would be in the epilogue where it introduces unbroken and broken symmetry and the discussion on space time as these are very challenging concepts which force one to think in a different way and widen one's view of the universe and reality.

Conclusion Overall, “In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat” was an incredible, eye-opening read, easily providing one with a deep knowledge of quantum physics, the problem-solving skills it involves and the process of discovery, rather than the basic understanding one gathers from going through a textbook. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone either considering or already studying physics or those who just have a passing interest.

INTERVIEW An Interview with Mrs Anderson Hope Oraka Onojeje Mrs. Anderson is a mathematics teacher and a form tutor for 12 TAN. Question: How did you get into teaching?

I feel like I have been teaching for a long time in many other forms but I actually became a teacher four years ago. I was on a career break from banking and I spent a lot of time working in primary schools. I was fascinated by what I saw in classrooms as well as it being something that I had always wanted to do. I initially avoided it but I have always felt that teaching was a calling.

Question: What did you do before you became a teacher?

I was in banking. I worked for a private bank in central London called Goldman Sachs. My role was as a senior client analyst, I traded portfolios for high net worth individuals. So if anyone had 10 million pounds or more they would come to me! I would assist them by opening a bank account and then trade their money on the stock exchange.

Question: What is the best part of your day?

Tutor time. I love my tutor group!

Question: Who has been the most inspirational person you have ever met?

It has to be my dad. Mainly because he fought for people who were not privileged and he was the kindest and most generous person I have ever met. He has even won awards from the queen and when he had wanderlust he was passionate about travelling the world to develop a deeper understanding of the place he lived in. Even later in life when fate took away his limbs when he lost his legs he never gave up the desire to spread love and happiness. These physical limitations did not stop him as he still found a way to smile and without a doubt is the most positive person I have ever met.

Question: What is the most significant event that’s happened in your life?

Becoming a mother. It is the most powerful and enriching thing I have ever done. It is what I am most passionate about and I learn from this role every day. Without question, it is the most important part of my life.

Question: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Becoming a teacher. That is because the teacher-training year is the toughest course I have ever experienced. The whole year altered the balance in my life, as I had to juggle a full-time job, whilst attending classes for a teacher training degree at night as well as being a mother.

It was intense but worth it at the end of the day.

MUSIC Soundtrack to Your Week Beth Drury and Manon Garnham Hi, pals! We have taken over the music section for this issue to share with you some of our favourite summer songs.

Perfect Places - Lorde This song is an insane new release from our LORDE and saviour. 'Perfect Places' encompasses the summer ideal of freedom and peace, it toes the line between calmness and a bop. The album, Melodrama, as a whole has a great summery feel to it so is definitely worth a listen.

Glazin’ – Jacuzzi Boys Glazin’ encompasses anyone’s ideal summer: it is fun, vibrant and evokes ideas of youth and teenage recklessness.

Candy Wrappers – Summer Salt This is another new release and is a perfect song for de-stressing after exams: it is calm but optimistic enough to give you a breather and also get excited for the heat and freedom ahead.

T-Shirt Weather – Circa Waves A summer classic that reminds you of the British summer where, in our first day of heat, everyone miraculously decides to get their barbeques out.

If you haven’t heard T-Shirt Weather before, have you ever fully experienced summer?

Pink Skies – Lany A different kind of summer vibe is present in this song: it is nostalgic and gentle like a summer’s evening. It is a good, chill night out with friends.

1998 (Delicious) – Peace This song holds the anticipation and quiet excitement of a fast drive down an open road at night. It is atmospheric and free; it is the feeling of cool wind against your sunburnt skin. It is one of our favourite songs.

Time Is Dancing – Ben Howard Again, this song is gentle and nostalgic; it holds the sluggish heat of summer within its melody. Ben Howard is a great artist, and we strongly suggest you listen to some of his other music.

Creative Writing The Waterfall Ragavi Karunakaran

I stood still, absorbing the beams of the sunshine that was radiating from the huge ball of fire in the clear sky. It stood as tall and proud as a King; it was softly cushioned by pillows of pale puff. With each step that I took, the pleasant noise of the cascading waterfall enhanced. The melodious tone of the distant birds rippled through the air. The cooling shade of the green leaves protected me from the scorching sun. I elegantly floated up the stairs towards the waterfall with numerous butterflies accompanying me. Finally, it was in sight! The water rushed past the harsh rocks, smoothening them along its path. I settled upon the luscious green grass spattered with angelic drops of white, yellow and blue. My feet slowly descended into the flow of water. A tingling sensation ran up my spine and through my body, slowly making me fall into a gentle sleep. With that, I closed my tired eyelids and the muscles in my body relaxed while I drifted into my own dream world.

Creative Writing The Fire Zoe Wakeling

A year ago today, water and never-ending shards of fire merged to create the most relentless misery this proposing port in Marseilles had ever seen. Quaint boats scattered amongst the vast spectrum of every single shade of blue clumped in groups in a feeble attempt to shield each other from the all-consuming, blistering heat that only seemed to increase with an ever lazy blink of my damaged eyes. The scorched boats swayed, drunkenly dancing a drowsy duet with the throbbing glare from the devil above. How cruel it was to be surrounded by the very thing I craved the most, and yet was forbidden by my own hateful sense of self-preservation from letting the soothing arms of the glittering depths below to caress me into eternal sleep.

Thank you for Reading!

The newspaper committee would like to extend a large thank you for reading this Edition of the Wally Street Journal! We hope you enjoyed it!

We hope that you all have an amazing Summer Holiday and that you all continue to write such amazing articles and essays and submit them to the School Newspaper folder in the shared area.

If any of the articles in the newspaper pique your interest, please feel free to write an article in response.

Thank you and goodbye for now!